Lortab
Lortab is a narcotic pain medication that is a member of the opiate analgesics drug classification. The medication is a combination of the opioid called hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration classifies Lortab as a Schedule II drug. This means the drug has medical uses, and has the potential to be highly addictive. Hydrocodone products were previously classified in the Schedule III category, but were moved to a Schedule III drug on October 6, 2014. Changing the medication to a Schedule II drug should make it more difficult for people to obtain, as their refills must be obtained in-person instead of called in over the phone. The duration and supply of the prescription a doctor can write depends upon the patient’s individual state. For example, some states allow a person to obtain only a 90-day supply at a time.
Street names for Lortab include Hydro, Norco, Vikes or Tabs.
Intended Usage
Doctors prescribe Lortab to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.
This medication is available in both pill form and as a liquid. The medicine is available in a variety of strengths.
Examples include 2.5 mg/500 mg; 5 mg/500 mg; 7.5 mg/500 mg; 10 mg/ 500 mg. These are typically taken every four to six hours as needed for pain — the medication is not usually scheduled for pain.
Patients taking the lower-dose Lortabs (2.5 to 5 milligrams) should not take more than eight pills per day while those taking the higher-dose of the drug (7.5 to 10 milligrams) should not exceed six tablets per day. Those taking the liquid form should not take more than six tablespoons per day. This is due to the increased risks for toxicity to the liver from too much acetaminophen.
Side Effects
Side effects that can occur when taking Lortab include:
- anxiety
- blurred vision
- constipation
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- dry mouth
- nausea
- ringing in the ears
- vomiting
More serious side effects that can occur include:
- Appetite loss
- Difficulty urinating
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Itching
- Seizures
- Shallow breathing
- Slow heartbeat
A person should not take Lortab with alcohol or other medications that contain acetaminophen. This can include over-the-counter cold and cough products.
Abuse and Addiction
Hydrocodone-containing medications are the most-prescribed medications in America. More than 135 million Americans filled prescriptions for hydrocodone-containing medicines in 2012, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
People who struggle with Lortab addiction often have co-occurring mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism or depression.
Symptoms that a person may be abusing Lortab include:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Experiencing constant financial concerns
- Forging/stealing prescriptions to get more
- Hallucinations
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Reckless behavior
- Risk taking
Lortab addiction can cause a person to experience multiple problems in his or her personal or professional life. These include job loss, lost interpersonal relationships, seizures, coma or death.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Lortab withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Aggressive/agitated behavior
- Anxiety
- Body chills
- Cramping
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Extreme sweating
- Tremors
Lortab withdrawals do not tend to be life-threatening, but can be significant enough to cause severe distress. Symptoms usually take place within 12 hours after stopping taking the drug for up to several days.
Treatment for Lortrab Addiction
Treatment for Lortab addiction depends upon how long a person may have abused the medication and how much he or she typically takes of the medication. Residential inpatient treatment for addiction may include the prescription of Subobxone. This medication can relieve pain without causing the cravings associated with drug abuse.
For more information on Lortab abuse or if you think a loved one is suffering from Lortab addiction, please call our drug treatment center at <a href=”tel:8778553470″>877-855-3470</a>.